Electric lighting fixture



June 1949- v. J. IQIARCHESE 2,474,484

ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed April 13, 1948 ZSheets-Sheet [B Jig. l46 KIS 4? 45 so as I! 1111!! 11 777771 )1! III'IIII 2| 4 [0 n 5 6| 22 2o56 591 u '3 I F 32 35 34 36 I9 84 33 7o 34 35 INVENTOR.

vincent J. Mar H552 BY l2; a I ATTORNEYS.

June 28, 1949. MARCHESE v2,474,484-

ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed April 13, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4.INVENTOR.

Vim: ETfl' J. Mar" ch 5 ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC LIGHTINGFIXTURE Vincent J. Marchese, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 13, 1948, Serial No. 20,771

Claims.

This invention relates to electric lighting equipment and moreparticularly to the electric circuit control of electric lightingfixtures, including portable electric lamps.

An important object of the invention is to provide an electric lightingfixture having a novel electric switch associated with movable and fixedstructures of the fixture whereby a slight tilting movement imparted toone structure will cause actuation of the electric switch to either openor close the switch, so that the lamp associated with the fixture willbe lighted or extinguished.

Another important object is to provide a novel electric lighting fixturehaving no electric switch portion, as a button, projecting outwardlyfrom the fixture housing, yet the electric circuit to light the lamp orlamps of the fixture may be actuated from the exterior of the housing.

A further important object is to provide a portable electric lightingfixture, such as a table or floor lamp, which may be carried from placeto place without accidentally operating the electric switch associatedtherewith.

Since the novel fixture preferably includes an outer movable structurewhich, upon oscillation will open or close an electric circuit, anobject of the invention is to provide means, employing parts of the lamplighting and extinguishing means to cause a visible flasher-type signalin the event the outer movable structure becomes accidentally tilted andremains tilted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description of the invention, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification and in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of an electric lighting fixture embodyingthe invention and including an upper housing portion in a verticalposition.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the lower part of the lighting fixtureof Figure 1, with the upper housing portion tilted to actuate anelectric switch.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a preferred electric switch whichmay be employed in the novel fixture.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a ratchet associated with the switchof Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an electric wiring diagram of the fixture.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the novel electric lighting fixture is designated A and a conventionalelectric lamp as B.

The fixture A is shown as including a reciprocating and tilting housingor housing structure Ill, comprising a first or lower housing portion 1l and second or upper housing portion I2, a support structure l3including a lower support portion l4 over which the lower housingportion II extends and an elongated standard I5 carried thereby andsupporting an electric lamp base-receiving socket structure IS, with anelectric switch assembly I! carried by the housing l0 and supportstructure l3. The fixture also includes a solenoid-operated off-and-onswitch assembly [8 and electrical wiring IS.

The housing structure In may be of any suitable material, as metal,hardened plastics, wood or combinations thereof, and the lower housingportion ll may be bell-like in shape, forming a skirt 20, open at itslower end and the housing portion Il may terminate at its upper end in acollar 2|. From this collar 2| may extend the upper housing portion l2which is preferably elongated and tubular and fixedly secured to thecollar in any approved way, as by rivets 22 which rivets may be employedalso to secure a portion of the electric switch assembly H to bedescribed. The portion I2 is preferably open at each end. Spaced belowthe upper open end of the housing portion I2 is a portion of means 23 toloosely support the housing structure In by the support structure l3.This may be a flange or shoulder 24 fixedly secured to and extendinginwardly from the wall of the housing portion l2. Preferably, the flangeprovides a circular opening 25 and the diameter thereof is greater thanthe outside diameter of the standard l5 to be subsequently described.This flange 24 may be provided with an upstanding collar 26 engaging theinner surface of this wall and secured to the wall as by screws 21.

Referring now to the support structure I3, this may be of metal,plastics, wood and the like or combinations thereof. The lower supportportion or base I4 includes a section 30 preferably somewhat bell-likein shape but smaller than the lower housing portion II which extendsover it and is spaced therefrom. Thus, the section 30 contains a chamber3| and from the lower end of the section 30 projects anoutwardly-extending, substantially horizontal foot section or flange 32.Closing the mouth of the bell-like section 30 is a cover 33 which may beremovably secured to the section 30 as by screws 34. If desired, thelower and vertical faces of the flange 32 may be faced with a protectivecovering 35, as felt with its outer horizontal face disposed below thehori zontal plane of the outer face of the cover 33. The wall of thesection 3|] may be provided with electric conductonaccommodatingpassageway or openings 36 and 31, and with an upwardly-openingaxially-disposed, screw-threaded opening 38.

The standard I is preferably an elongated tube, much smaller in exteriorcircumference than the interior circumference of the upper housingportion I2 through which it extends, and provided with exterior screwthreads at its lower end to accommodate the screw threads of the opening38. A set screw 39 extending through the wall of the section and to theopening 38 may bear against the standard I5 in order to secure itagainst accidental rotation with respect to the support portion I4. Theupper end of the standard I5 may be exteriorly screw threaded to receivethe socket structure I6 to be subsequently described. Spaced below theupper end of the standard I5 and secured thereto, as by a screw 40 is acollar 4| constructed and arranged to support, upon its upper end, theinnermost portions of the shoulder or flange 24 so that the shoulder andstructure secured thereto may be rocked upon the upper face of thecollar M which has an outer circumference much less than the innercircumference of the adjacent parts of the upper housing portion I2.This collar 4I forms, with the shoulder or flange 24, the means 23,referred to heretofore.

As stated, the standard I5 receives the socket structure It at the upperend of the former and this structure may be of any desirable material,as metal, plastic or wood. In the example shown, the structure I5includes a' body portion having an upwardly-opening, partlyscrew-threaded electric lamp base-receiving socket 45 and a conductorreceiving passageway 41 leading thereto and with the lower portion ofthe wall of this passageway provided with screw threads to cooperatewith those at the upper end of the standard I5. From the lower end ofthe body portion 45 depends a skirt portion 48 having dual functions,since the socket 49 provided by the skirt portion and lower face of thebody portion 45 receives the upper end of the upper housing portion I2in a loose fit (so that this upper end can rock in the socket 49) andthe socket 40 also receives the upper end of an expansion coil spring 50which bears against the lower face of the housing portion 45 while thelower end of the spring bears against the upper face of the shoulder orflange 24. The spring 50 surrounds the adjacent part of the standard I5and resiliently spaces the socket structure I6 from the shoulder 24.Since the socket structure is secured to the support structure I3 thespring tends to force the housing In downwardly but reaches its limit ofexpansion before the lower end of the lower housing portion II contactsa supporting surface upon which the support structure I3 rests. It isnow obvious that the entire housing may be rocked or tilted with respectto the support structure I3, and that if one grasps the housing III, asat the upper portion I2, the weight of the support structure (eitheralone or with the added weight of the electric switch assembly I! to bedescribed and which is secured to the support structure) will cause thesupport structure to move toward the center of gravity, compressing thespring 50 until the upper edge of the upper housing portion I2 contactsthe base of the socket 49. Not only will this prevent the housing I0 andsupport structure from separating further and the fixture may be carriedabout, but it also affects, in a desirable way, the switch assembly I!to be next described. It is also obvious that, if the fixture is setdown again, the housing I0 and support structure I3 will assume therelative positions shown in Figure 1 due to the expansion of the spring50.

The electric switch assembly ll in the example shown, comprises a fixedcontact 55 provided for by a cylinder 56 of electricity-conducting metalcarried by the standard I5 at, preferably just above the juncture of thestandard and support portion I4 but electrically insulated therefrom, asby the collar 51 of dielectric material interposed between the cylinder56 and standard I5 and a disc 53 of dielectric material between thelower end of the collar 5! and upper face of the support portion I4. Themovable contact 59 is provided by a ring 60 of electricity-conductingmaterial facing, but normally spaced from, the fixed contact cylinder 56and supported by a suitable bracket SI of dielectric material,preferably secured to the lower end of the upper housing portion I2 asby the rivets 22. When the parts of the fixture are as in Figure l, theelectric switch is open but when the housing I0 is tilted, as in Figure2, the switch is closed, since the two contacts engage one another. Theelectric switch assembly does not take the place of a conventionalswitch of an electric lamp socket, since the novel lamp is adapted to beboth lighted and extinguished with the parts coming to a position ofrest as in Figure 1.

Associated with the switch assembly Ii is an electrically-operatedon-and-off electric switch assembly I8, shown more particularly inFigure 3. This may comprise a solenoid 65, pawl 66 and ratchet wheel 61associated therewith and electrical contacts 68 and 69, all carried in asuitable housing 70. The solenoid 65 comprises a conventional coilwinding portion II and reciprocating armature 12. The latter is disposedto abut the intermediate portion of an inclined arm l3 pivotallycarried, at its lower end, by the housing III and in turn, pivotallycarrying the pawl 66 which is spring-urged by the retraction spring 14to normall pivot toward the pivotal connection of arm and housing.

The free end of the pawl 66 is constructed and arranged to engage, oneafter another, the teeth I5 of the ratchet wheel 635, shown particularlyin Figure 4, which wheel is pivotally carried by the housing Ill uponpivot IS. The wheel 63, in the example shown, has six teeth spacedsubstantially 60 apart, and is of a dielectric material. Secured to aface of the ratchet wheel is an electric current-conducting member 71provided, in the example shown, with three spaced-apart projections I8substantially apart which projections correspond in plan with the teethI5 of the ratchet wheel. Each projection I8 has an arcuate edge 19 whichmerges into a like arcuate edge of the associated tooth I5. Arranged fortheir free ends to rub over the arcuate edges mentioned, particularlythe arcuate edges 19 are the two spaced apart electric contacts 68 and69 of springy material. From Figures 3 and 4 it is apparent that the twocontacts 68 and 59 will both either contact the member ll at two edgesl9 at the same time or, upon rotation of the ratchet wheel 60, will rubupon only the dielectric material teeth at the same time. Consequentlyeach 128 rotation of the ratchet wheel will first either open or closethe switch just described and then either close or open the same. Thecontacts 68 and (it may be carried by the housing 10 and electricallyinsulated therefrom.

With reference to the electric wiring i9, a lead 80 extends from oneterminal of a conventional plug 8| to a block 82 and thence to oneterminal in the base of the socket assembly it. Electrically connectedith the lead 88 is a lead 83 to the movable contact '59 of the switchassembly IT. From the other terminal of the plug 8| a lead 84 may extendto the block t2 and thence to the contact 68. Electrically connectedwith the lead 8 is a lead 85 to one end of the windings of the solenoid65. From the other terminal in the socket assembly 86 a lead 86 mayextend to the block and thence to the corn tact 69. From the fixedcontact 55 of the switch assembly H, a lead 8? may extend to the block82 and thence to the other end of the windings of the solenoid 55. Ifdesired, a conventional thermostat 88 may be interposed in the wiring,such as in the lead 85, and suitably disposed within the housing It.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the fixture A, if a floor ordesk lamp for example may be lighted or extinguished by simply tiltingthe housing I0 after which the housing is allowed to swing to asubstantially vertical position. If the lower housing portion ii and thebase portion M are of metal, the protective covering 35 upon thevertical face of the dense 32 will deaden any sound when. they meet. Ifthe light is extinguished and it is desired to move the fixture toanother location, the housing it] is grasped and because the movablecontact 559 will then move upwardly and out of facing relationship withthe fixed contact 55, no matter if there is some oscillation, there willbe no electric circuit closure. If one desires to move a lighted fixtureA, one need but support the lower support portion M by one hand andsteady the housing Iii with the other as the fixture is moved.

The thermostat 88 is desirable, since an object might be moved or tippedaccordingly against the housing ill and close the circuit to thesolenoid, whereupon prolongated closure of the circuit might causedamage to the wiring, etc. By interposing the thermostat, the incidentalwarming up due to the solenoid circuit being closed will cause thethermostat to warm up and open the solenoid circuit, but when thethermostat again cools, it will close the circuit and energize thesolenoid causing at 60 movement of the ratchet wheel and consequentchanges in the lamp (from off to on or Vice versa). A repetition of thethermostatic and solenoidal actions will take place with consequentflashing of the lamp, thus providing a visible signal so that theobstruction will be brought to notice and may be removed.

Various changes may be made to the form of the invention herein shownand described without departing from the spirit of the invention orscope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric lighting fixture, a support structure including astandard, a housing structure, including a tubular portion spaced fromand extending about said standard, means for supporting said housingstructure by said support structure so that said tubular portion may beoscillated with respect to said standard structure, including aring-shaped element fixedly secured to the inner face of said tubularportion, intermediate the ends of said tubular portion and normallyspaced from said standard, and a second ring-shaped element fixedlysecured to the outer periphery of said standard, the outer periphery ofsaid second element being less in circumference than the interiorcircumference of said tubular portion and greater in circumference thanthe circumference of the outer periphery of said first element, saidfirst element being disposed upon said second element, coupling means toattach an electric lamp to the upper end of said standard, including asocket structure having a body portion provided with a lower face and adownwardly opening skirt portion extending from said face, with theupper end of said tubular portion disposed within said skirt portion andnormally spaced therefrom and from said face, resilient means withinsaid skirt portion and upper end of said tubular portion normally urgingsaid upper end away from said face, a pair of electric terminals carriedby said coupling means, an electric contact secured to the inner face ofsaid tubular: portion beiow said first element, an electric contactsecured to the outer face of said standard, normally spaced from saidfirst contact and disposed within the path of travel of said firstcontact upon osciliation of said tubular portion, an oi f-and-onelectric switch, electric means for actuating said switch upon abutmentof said contacts, an electric lead from one of said contacts to one ofsaid terminals, an electric lead from the other of said terminals to oneof the terminals of said switch, a lead from the other of said contactsto the other ter-- minal of said off-and on electric switch, and meansplacing said electric means in circuit with said fixed contact and oneof said terminals of said oif-and-on switch.

2. In electric lighting fixture, support structure including a standard,a housing structure including tubular portion spaced from and extendingabout said standard, means for sup porting said housing structure bysaid support structure so that said tubular portion may be oscillatedwith respect to standard structure, including a ring-shaped elementfixedly secured to the inner face of said tubular portion, intermediatethe ends of said tubular portion and normally spaced from said standard,and asecond ring-shaped element fixedly secured to the outer peripheryof said standard, the outer periphery of said second element being incircun1ference than the interior circuinf *ence of said tubular portionand greater in circumference than the circumference of the outerperiphery of said first element, said first element being disposed uponsaid second element, coupling means to attach an electric lamp to theupper end of said standard, including a socket structure having a bodyportion provided with a lower face and a downwardly opening skirtportion extending from said face, with the upper end of said tubularportion disposed within said skirt portion and normally spaced therefromand from said face, resilient means within said skirt portion and upperend of said tubular portion normally urging said upper end away fromsaid face, a pair of electric terminals carried by said coupling means,an electric contact secured to the inner face of said tubular portion,an electric contact secured to the outer face of said standard belowsaid first element and normally disposed within the path of travel ofsaid first contact upon tipping of said tubular portion and disposed outof the path of travel of said first contact when said tubular portioncontacts said face, an off-and-on electric switch, electric means foractuating said switch upon abutment of said contacts, an electric leadfrom one of said contacts to one of said terminals, an electric leadfrom the other of said terminals to one of the terminals of said switch,a lead from the other of said contacts to the other terminal of saidoff-and-on electric switch, and means placing said electric means incircuit with said fixed contact and one of said terminals of saidoff-and-on switch.

3. In an electric lighting fixture, a support structure including astandard, a housing structure including a tubular portion spaced fromand extending about said standard, means for supporting said housingstructure by said support structure so that said tubular portion may beoscillated with respect to said standard structure, including aring-shaped element fixedly secured to the inner face of said tubularportion, intermediate the ends of said tubular portion and normallyspaced from said standard, and a second ring-shaped element fixedlysecured to the outer periphery of said standard, the outer periphery ofsaid second element being less in circumference than the interiorcircumference of said tubular portion and greater in circumference thanthe circumference of the outer periphery of said first element, saidfirst element being disposed upon said second element, coupling means toattach an electric lamp to the upper end of said standard, including asocket structure having a body portion provided with a lower face and adownwardly opening skirt portion extending from said face, with theupper end of said tubular portion disposed within said skirt portion andnormally spaced therefrom and from said face, resilient means withinsaid skirt portion and upper end of said tubular portion normally urgingsaid upper end away from said face, a pair of electric terminals carriedby said coupling means, an electric contact secured to the inner face ofsaid tubular portion, an electric contact secured to the outer face ofsaid standard below said first element and normally disposed Within thepath of travel of said first contact upon tipping of said tubularportion and disposed out of the path of travel of said first contactwhen said tubular portion contacts said face, and ofi-and-on electricswitch, electric means for actuating said switch upon abutment of saidcontacts, an electric lead from one of said contacts to one of saidterminals, an electric lead from the other of said terminals to one ofthe terminals of said switch, a lead from the other of said contacts tothe other terminal of said off-and-on electric switch, and means placingsaid electric means in circuit with said fixed contact and one of saidterminals of said off-and-on switch, said off-and-on switch andelectrical means being carried by said support structure, and the weightof said support structure and last named means being greater than theweight of said housing structure.

4. In an electric lighting fixture, a support structure including astandard, a housing structure including a tubular portion spaced fromand extending about said standard, means for supporting said housingstructure by said support structure so that said tubular portion may beoscillated with respect to said standard structure, including aring-shaped element fixedly secured to the inner face of said tubularportion, intermediate the ends of said tubular portion and normallyspaced from said standard, and a second ring-shaped element fixedlysecured to the outer periphery of said standard, the outer periphery ofsaid second element being less in circumference than the interiorcircumference of said tubular portion and greater in circumference thanthe circumference of the outer periphery of said first element, saidfirst element being disposed upon said second element, coupling means toattach an electric lamp to the upper end of said standard, including asocket structure having a body portion provided with a lower face and adownwardly opening skirt portion extending from said face, with theupper end of said tubular portion disposed within said skirt portion andnormally spaced therefrom and from said face, resilient means withinsaid skirt portion and upper end of said tubular portion normally urgingsaid upper end away from said face, a pair of electric terminals carriedby said coupling means, an electric contact secured to the inner face ofsaid tubular portion, an electric contact secured to the outer face ofsaid standard below said first element and normally disposed within thepath of travel of said first, contact upon tripping of said tubularportion and disposed out of the path of travel of said first contactwhen said tubular portion contacts said face, an off-and-on electricswitch, electric means for actuating said switch upon abutment of saidcontacts, an electric lead from one of said contacts to one of saidterminals, an electric lead from the other of said terminals to one ofthe terminals of said switch, a lead from the other of said contacts tothe other terminal of said off-and-on electric switch, and means placingsaid electric means in circuit with said fixed contact and one of saidterminals of said off-andon switch, the weight of said support structurebeing greater than the weight of said housing structure.

5. In an electric lightin fixture, a support structure including ahollow base, providing a chamber, and a standard; a housing structure,including a lower hollow portion having an open lower end, and a.tubular portion extending upwardly from the lower hollow portion, saidlower hollow portion being disposed about the upper part of said baseand spaced therefrom, and the tubular portion being disposed about thelower part of said standard and spaced therefrom; means for supportingsaid housing structure from said support structure so that said housingstructure may be rocked from side to side; means to couple an electriclamp to the upper end of said standard; a pair of electric terminalscarried by said last-named means; electric switch means carried withinsaid housing structure and by said support structure and operable uponrocking of said housing structure; an oif-and-on electric switch,electric means for actuating said last-named switch upon closing saidfirst-named switch and disposed within said chamber; an

electric lead from one of the contacts of said 4 first-named switch toone of said terminals; an REFERENCES CITED electric lead from the otherof said terminals to The OW g references are of record in the a contactof said last-named switch; a lead from file of this patent:

the other contact of said first-named switch to 5 the other contact ofsaid second-named switch; UNITED STATES PATENTS a thermostat interposedin one of said leads, and Number Name Date disposed within said chamberadjacent said elec- 1,953,936 Kniltson D 1913 tric means; and meansplacing said electric 7 ,079 COndit July 3, 1928 means in circuit withsaid fixed contact and one 10 2,014,054 Rood et a1 Sept. 9 5 of saidcontacts of said olT-and-on switch. ,3 4,844 Hutt July 20, 1943 VINCENTJ. MARCHESE.

